Disclaimer: I don't own Pirates of the Caribbean.

A/n: I'm glad you guys like this fiction. As some of you have suggested in your reviews, yes, Annie is based on Jack. She's supposed to be a mini, female version of him only with better luck and a bit smarter cos lets face it, Jack isn't exactly Einstein. In case you were wondering and I can't remember if I mentioned this before but Curt was introduced as I once read Johnny Depp (I Love You, Johnny) wanted Jack's dad to be in the sequel so Keith Richards (from the Rolling Stones in case you didn't know and inspiration for Jack) could be in it. According to my sources, unfortunately no such part is in existence. Oh well, you can't always get what you want. Also, is it me or does Jack Sparrow kinda remind you of Jack O'Neill from Stargate? The next chapter will sadly be the last of this story.

Chapter 12

Hang me

Emma began to cry and hid her face in Will's shirt. Jack knelt at the railing, staring at the burning jungle. "Annie," he whispered faintly. Elizabeth looked from Jack to Will to the shocked crews. Even Smut seemed shocked. She walked up to Jack. She bent down and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Jack," she said quietly. Jack broke down sobbing.

"She's gone!" he sobbed, "My little girl is gone!"

"Jack, Annie was a brave young woman," started Elizabeth.

"Woman!" snapped Jack, "She was my little girl. She weren't even sixteen! All those years I missed, and in the last five…I never once told her how much I loved her." He started to howl like a wounded dog. Norrington spoke loudly so he could be heard over Jack. "I shall honour Annie's deal with me," he said, "Mr. Sparrow, Mr. Rose, you and the crew of the Black Pearl are free to go." He looked down at Jack, his face full of pity.

"As are you, Captain," he said. Jack looked down at the floor.

"Captain? That's the most respect you've ever shown me," said Jack, "Too bad my daughter had to die for it. I don't want to be free. Commodore…"

"Admiral," said Norrington, "It's Admiral Norrington."

"Admiral," said Jack, "I want you to take me back to Port Royal and hang me."

"Jack, no!" shouted Will.

"I've got nothing left, Will," said Jack, "My wife's dead, my kids are dead. All I've got is a ship too famous to hide on, a father who hates me and a bastard for a son. The only thing for me is the noose."

"I don't hate you, son," said Curt, "I hated some of the things you did."

"I hate you," muttered Smut. Gibbs slapped Smut around the back of his head. Curt ignored Smut. "I never hated you," said Curt, "You're my son. That will never change." Jack nodded his head. "I still want Norrington to hang me," said Jack, "If I hadn't done the things I've done then Annie would still be alive. She would have had both parents when she was growing up. Not living in some stinking house in Tortuga with only her mother and people telling her that her father was no good. No, I deserve the noose." Norrington shifted his weight from one foot to the other nervously. "Are you sure?" he said. Jack nodded his head. "Let the others go," he said, "But I stay."

"Jack, no, you're a good man," said Will.

"I've got nothing Will," said Jack, "Annie was my last reason for living and she's gone."

Will sighed and tightened his grip on Emma. If Emma and Elizabeth died, he wouldn't have anything to live for. Norrington nodded at Jack's request. Will glared at him. He could see a faint smirk on his face. Jack's child had just died and all Norrington could think of was the praise he would receive for hanging the most notorious pirate in the Caribbean. Two officers took Jack by the arms and walked him down to the brig. Curt sighed as his son disappeared below deck. "There goes my last one," he said. Will looked at Curt. "You had another child?" he asked. Curt nodded.

"Jack had a little sister, May we named her," said Curt, "She was killed by an untimely cannon blast when she was five. My wife, Anabelle, Annie's namesake, died giving birth to her. It seems every woman in my family is doomed to die prematurely. My own mother died when she was young. Yet I linger. I'm in the winter of my years yet He won't give me a break and let me kick the bucket." He pointed upwards towards the sky, indicating he'd been talking about God. He looked round at the pirates who had been saved by his granddaughter. "Well, you miserable dogs, hop to it before Fish-face changes his mind," said Curt. Will saw Norrington frown at the ill-gotten nickname. As he made to climb into one of the long boats, Curt saw Norrington's face and smiled. "Thought I hadn't heard about that one, eh?" he said before climbing in. He disappeared as the boats were lowered. As they rowed away, Curt took off his hat and bowed to the Turners.

Jack looked so lonely in his cell. Will was watching from the doorway at his good friend. Jack looked completely miserable. Will gave up. He couldn't watch him any longer. He walked over to the cell and sat down in front of the cell. "Change your life, don't they?" murmured Jack. "Huh?" said Will, oblivious to what Jack was talking about.

"Kids," said Jack, "When you're growing up you can't imagine ever having them. Then when they arrive, you can't imagine life without them. It's like they become your life force. You need them and they need you." Will nodded his head.

"I remember the day Annie was born," said Jack, his eyes glazed over as he remembered, "I was stuck outside that room all day. Then I hear this little voice crying out. Then another one. I remember thinking, 'Twins. I got twins'. Then Susie's mother opened that door and let me in. And she put this little thing in my hands. It was Annie. She was so small; I could hold her in one hand. I remember saying to her that I'd never let anyone hurt her. I made the same promise to my son. I failed. He died. Then I hurt Annie by disappearing off for Isla de Muerta. I was so scared that someone else would hurt them. I ended hurting them."

"Emma wasn't small," said Will, "I remember being given her and wondering how something like her came from Elizabeth. You're not alone Jack. I also made a promise to Emma that no one would ever hurt her."

"I never told you about Susie, did I?" said Jack. Will shook his head.

"Ahh, Susie Rose," said Jack, "By far the prettiest girl in Tortuga. She was working in her father's pub the night I met her. She smiled and gave me a free pint. She eyed up your father too but saw the wedding ring. We'd just come in, looking for a crew to go to Isla de Muerta and she showed us the first bit of kindness. She didn't care that I was a pirate. It was a matter of months later I found out she was pregnant. I just knew that she and those kids would make me happy. But I blew it…"

"With Scarlett?" said Will. Jack nodded.

"Aye, it was just before my wedding when she told me about Smut," said Jack, "God, I was so scared I'd lose Susie that day. But she stuck by me. She never deserved all that she went through with me. My dad was right. I am a lousy father. I walked out on my baby girl when her brother died and didn't see her for almost ten years." Jack looked Will in the eye and became very serious. He reached into his pocket and pulled something out. "Before she died," said Jack, "Susie gave me this." He held out a small gold locket, "She told me to give it to Annie on her sixteenth birthday. Today." Will looked at Jack.

"Annie wasn't even sixteen?" he said. Jack shook his head.

"Will, do me one last favor mate," said Jack, "Take this and throw it in the sea. I don't want it where I'm going." He gave the locket to Will.

"But Jack…" started Will.

"I've no need for gold in hell," said Jack. He turned away from Will, showing that the conversation was finished. Will stood up slowly and made his way up to the deck.

Elizabeth and Emma were stood at the far end of the ship. Will went and stood next to his wife and daughter. "What did he say?" asked Elizabeth.

"He just told me about his wife and Annie," said Will, "He wants me to throw this in the ocean. He was supposed to give it to Annie." He showed her the locket. Elizabeth sighed.

"We had better do as he wishes," she said, "We don't want a vengeful ghost Jack coming after us." Will sighed and traced the patterns on the locket. He threw it as far as he could. The locket plunged into the blue ocean with a splash. Will put his arm around Elizabeth and pressed a kiss to her head as the locket vanished from sight.

The locket floated on the water, back towards the still smoking island. The frothy water swept it up onto the shore. For a few moments, it lay undisturbed on the blackened sands. Then a hand, dirty from the smuts of burnt wood, picked it up. Annie Sparrow was very much alive and well. She held the small locket in her hand, recognizing it as her mothers. She looked up at the sun which shone brightly down on her sooty face then out to the sea. A ship was coming. A ship with black sails. Black sails that were full of holes and the Jolly Roger flying from the mast. She smiled to herself. She really wasn't that stupid and was far luckier than her father. Now she had the rescue him and they would once again become the infamous father-daughter pirate duo, Jack and Annie Sparrow.